Manufacturing in Crisis: The UK’s Fall and the Road Ahead

Fashion-Enter Ltd’s CEO, Jenny Holloway was one of the industry experts to feature in Alix Coombs’ article:‘Manufacturing in Crisis: The UK’s Fall and the Road Ahead’ published on Fashion Roundtable. 

As the graphic from Make UK shows the UK’s manufacturing economy has fallen 4 places from 2023 to 12th place, while other countries such as Mexico and Russia have jumped up. Alongside Jenny the article features further comments from Patrick Grant and Kate Hills, Founder of Make It British, stating that the UK government need to wake up to ensure UK manufacturing is reinstated as a key industry.

Jenny’s quote in the article: 

“When we started working in Leicester there were 1500 garment factories employing the best part of 15,000 skilled workers. Today there are 96 factories left. How on earth could we have let this happen? Leicester is a major manufacturing cluster, it currently has high unemployment, 2% higher than the national average, and retailers are crying out for newness and speed of response fashion.”

Jenny additionally talks about the rise in repairs and reprocessing and the need for investment in skills and adult education.

The article concludes:

To regain its status as a manufacturing powerhouse, it’s clear that the new labour government must invest into fashion, manufacturing and skill generation to promote growth and gain back the ground we’ve lost as one of the world’s biggest manufacturing nations.

Tap here to read the full article